Gadzooks! '03s are doubling up on me!!

[Rick the Librarian]

Do you oldsters remember those old Doublemint chewing gum commericals about "double your pleasure, double your fun"?? What's the only thing better than buying one M1903? Buying two, of course!! I was contacted by a gentleman who had inherited two rifles from his father and didn't have need of them and we struck a deal.

1) Springfield #1,477,963. A 1934 receiver with a (probably) original 1-32 SA barrel. I was mainly interested in this rifle because it had a no-bolt Sringfield stock. When the rifle arrived, it had a no-sighting groove, no-clip handguard, a beautifully blued upper band, an almost immaculate WT & B 1918 sling and a nickeled oiler. The stock was beautiful. I had meant to use the stock and handguard on an early 1905 barreled receiver, but now, I'm not so sure.

The stock has no inspection stamp, but does have a small S on the forestock, indicating pre-WWI Springfield Armory. The bore is excellent, although used (MW and TE of 3). My theory is that the owner added some parts from a very early M1903 to a later barreled receiver.





2) M1903 #2 was a nice middle-range M1903A3 - 3,889,688, with an original 5-43 Remington stock and later two bolt stock. The rifle had a LSAA or CSAA San Antonio overhaul stamp. Some of the parts had been refinished and the bolt is a replacement CC (Commericla Controls - not "Chrysler Corp." bolt body with earlier firing pin. The parts are mostly Remington, except for a early cutoff. The rifle came with a M1907 clone sling and a nickeled oiler. The bore (a 2-groove) was excllent with a ME and TE of 2.

The seller said his dad had always taken good care of them and both these rifles show it.

Information

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[Griff Murphey]

I wonder if he even neatsfoot-oiled those slings. They still look usable. I can remember shooting high power in the mid 60's and a lot of those old slings would break and people got alibi refires.

[Johnny Peppers]

The sling would be black today if it had ever had Neatsfoot Oil on it. This is a Randall knife sheath that my dad treated about 35 years ago.

[Phrogpilot]

Nice rifles, BEAUTIFUL SLING!!! Nice catch... Enjoy.

[Orsogato]

Wow. I'm still kicking myself in the teeth for selling my Smith Corona several years back. You got a two fer!!

Beautiful rifles. Killer sling!!

[JB71]

Nice rifles Rick, congrats!

I can't get over how nice the stock is on the 1903. Very nice indeed! Thanks for sharing.

[Fred G.]

Stay away from the Neats Foot Oil! Pecard's is the way to go. I even used Lexol a few times. Wrong move. Use Pechard's.